Rug tool



April 14, 1959 l G. H. Bmuvvu-iALLv -2,881,466

RUG TooL A Filled Dec. 29, 1955 United States Patent RUG TOOL George H.Bramhall, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assgnor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York This invention relates to cleaning toolsgenerally, and to air-operated cleaning tools particularly. My inventionis well suited for use in a vacuum cleaner cleaning tool and, therefore,for the purpose of simplifying an explanation of it, it will bedisclosed in such a device.

Contemporary vacuum cleaners fall into two general types: iirst, thosewhich clean by suction and include a motor-driven brush (this feature isnormally found in so-called upright cleaners) and second, those whichclean primarily by suction and do not include a motor-driven brush(commonly referred to as canister cleaners,A and normally either of thehorizontal or vertical Variety). The vacuum cleaner cleaning tools towhich the invention relates Aare primarily those which are used to cleanrugs and floors. It is generally agreed that the best cleaning job onrugs is performed by cleaners having a powerdriven rug Ibrush which mayor may not have other elements such as beaters associated with it.features of the canister type cleaners is that they are adapted forconvenient above the floor cleaning, i.e., wall,

furniture, drapery and ceiling cleaning. It is believed by many skilledin this art that a can1ster cleaner is superior:

to an upright cleaner, all other things being equal, in all respectsother than its ability to clean rugs. Therefore, it is highly desirablethat a cleaning tool be devised that may be used with the canister typecleaner and which is capable of closely approaching, if not duplicatingthe excellent rug cleaning capabilities of a motor-driven rug brush ofan upright type cleaner. It is believed obvious that the reasonmotor-driven brushes are not provided in canister cleaner rug tools isbecause of the diiculty of furnishing power to the rug tool. `In orderto meet this problem, it has been suggested that the moving fluid (air)which passes through the canister cleaner rug tool when the cleaner isoperated be utilized to drive a fluid-operated motor, which in turndrives a'rug brus In this application the term turbine-driven rug too isused to signify this type of device.

One type of turbine-driven rug tool with which the inventor is familiaroperatesl on a split air flow principle. In this arrangement, there isprovided a rug tool body The strong having a nozzle which is adapted tobe associated with the rug, a rug brush mounted contact with the rug, aturbine chamberwhich houses an impeller and communicates with theatmosphere through inlet openings, the turbine being connected to therug brush in mechanical driving relationship, and an outlet Y passagewaythe vacuum cleaner when the rug tool is connected to the canistercleaner wand. With this type of rug-tool, when the tool by energizingthe nozzle through the A 4the outlet passageway to the suction unit.'The air entering the turbine chamber contacts the vanes on the turbineenters the turbine* for rotation in the nozzle and which communicateswith the suction unit' ofIk has appropriate walls formed therein whichcompartment j its interior in a desired manner.

- and rotates it, and thereby drives the rug brush, which in ,so as tohave rolling friction therewith.

` movement of the rug tool and merges at its periphery into a zontalwall ice turn contacts the rug and dislodges dirt. The inventor hasobserved that this type of rug tool suffers from two basic defects: rst,there is not a suliicient flow of air through the turbine chamber togive the turbine adequate driving power under all circumstances, andsecond, the rug tool seals very firmly to certain types of rugs, and itbecomes very diicult to push the rug tool over such rugs.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cleaning toolwhich is particularly adapted to be used with canister type vacuumcleaners, and particularly a turbine-driven rug tool which operates onthe split airflow principle and wherein the above mentioned basicdefects in this type of device are obviated.

The object of this invention is achieved in one form by providing animproved rug brush in 'a split air-flow, turbine-driven rug tool whereinthe ow of air through the nozzle opening is regulated in a predeterminedmanner. The rug brush is designed so that it periodically substantiallyterminaates the flow of air through the nozzle opening, thereby forcingall incoming air at such times to enter the turbine chamber, and also sothat it contacts the rug on which the rug tool is operating in a mannerThe over-all, composite effect of the foregoing operation insuresadequate turbine driving power at al1 times and facilitates over rugs.

Other objects and further details of that which I believe to be noveland my invention will be clear from the foregoing ydescription andclaims taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

tool;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the improved rug brush;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,but on a reduced scale.

.Referring to the drawings, the improved cleaning tool,

Y which will herein be referred to Ias a rug tool, is vdesignatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10. Rug tool 10 comprises a bodyhaving the nozzle portion 12, the turbine portion 14, and the outletportion 16. As is illustrated in Fig. 1, the outlet portion 16 istubular and ladapted to be coupled, in any conventional manner, to

' the rigid wand 18, which in turn communicates through appropriateconventional mechanism with a suction unit, i.e., an air-ilow producingsource. The latter may be any one of the large number of availablesuction units, either stationary, built-in or portable, and particularlymay be a canister type vacuum cleaner. The improved rug tool isparticularly useful when associated with a canister type vacuum cleaner,because it renders the latter substantially equal in rug cleaningability to vacuum cleaners,

such yas the upright type, which have motor-driven rug However, itshould be clearly understood that it is not restricted in utility to usewith a canister type cleaner.

As can best be seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the rug tool body The rug toolbody walls comprise essentially three generally horizontal Walls and lappropriate side walls which render the body a unitary 20 is generallycircular generally downwardly extending slotted side wall 22 which isgenerally cylindrical. At its forward side- (the side opposite to theoutlet portionl), the wall 22 merges into a generallyhori- 24which'forms the upper surface of the structure. Upper horizontal wallerally cylindrical and located at ywhich communicates at its 'shaft ss.stub shaft nozzle portion 12 and extends into the body. Within the body,wall 24 has a portion 26 which is spaced below the wall 20 and extendsrearwardly partially into the outlet portion 16 (see Fig. 2). The walls20, 24 and 22 define the turbine chamber 38.

A portion 28 vof the depending wall 22 at the latters rear extendsdownwardly beyond the wall 24 and merges at its lowermost points withthe generally horizontal wall 30. A t its rearward side, portion 28merges with the outlet portion VV1,6. The lower wall 30 extends beneaththe wall 24 and hasy an elongated opening 32 formed near its forwardend, which constitutes a nozzle opening, as will become apparent. Agenerally vertical side wall 34 extends from the portion 28 of side wall22 completely around the nozzle portion 12 and is secured to the wall 24at its upper edge and to the wall 30 at its lower edge.

An inspection of Figs. 2 and 5, it is believed, will clearly indicatethe wall formation of and the manner in which ,the rug tool body iscompartmented so as to provide the following.; anozzle chamber 36, whichis elongated, genthe forward end of the body, a` turbine chamber 38,which is generally of a at cylindrical configuration, an outlet chamber40, which is formed in the outlet portion 16, a nozzle passageway 42,which communicates through elongated slot 44 with the nozzle, chamber 36at its forward end and through a somewhat'semi-circular opening 46 atits rearward end with the outlet chamber y40, and a turbine passageway48 forward end through the somewhat semi-circular opening 52 with theoutlet chamber 40.

, Thefwall v24, which separates the nozzle and turbine chambers, has acircular opening 54 formed therein.` Coaxial with opening 54 is asmaller opening 56 which is Vformed in the lower wall 30. The portionsof the walls forming ythese openings are in bearing relationship withthe contacting portions of the turbine supporting stub 58 is supportedin the opening S4 by a bearing enlargement 60, and is supported at itslowermost end. by the horizontal walll 62 which contacts theupper'surface of the portion of wall 30 surrounding opening 56. Stubshaft 58 has an extending pin 63 which projects beyond the'wall 62 andis received in the opening 56. The pin 63 projects beyond the wall 30and receives the washer-"64 and securing member 66 at its free end.

The upper end ofthe stub shaft 58 supports the turbine 68,`which'generally comprises the disk 70, which is rigidly of the stubshaft' 58, and has a plurality of vanes 72y disposed in spacedrelationship about periphery. The foregoing arrangement provides arotatablemounting for the vturbine and its stubshaft wherein most of theload is Vtaken by the portions of the lower Wall. 30 which surround theopening 56, and whereinthe portions of the wall 24 that surround theopening 54 are Abearing contact with the bearing enlargement 60 of theturbine stub. shaft. This particular mounting is merely kexemplary of arotary mounting for the turbine. Itis not a. critical aspect of myinvention for other mounts canreadily be devised which would be theequivalent of the one illustrated. It is important, however, that theturbine and the stub shaft be mounted for rotary movement relative tothe supporting portions of the rug tool body,` and the illustratedarrangement accomplishes this objective. i

The portion of the stub shaft 58 between the bearing .enlargement 60 andthe wall 62 is formed wit-h` a V-shaped groove 7.4 which simulates apulley surface; Mounted in v thenozzle chamber 36 onran axis which isgenerally-horizontally` disposed as compared with the general verticalyaxis'of thev stub shaft 58, is the improved rug Rug brush 76has stubshaft portions 78 formed atits l endswhich arereceived in appropriatebearing sockets 80 formed inthe endsof the walls that dene nozzlechamber 364 in any c onventionalmanner. Rug brush '7,6 is mountedV brush76.

soasto berotatablein the nozzle chamber 36 in a relay tivelyfrctionlessrmanner and to have a portion projecting through nozzleopening 32. At its central portion, the rug brush 76 has a generallyV=shaped groove 82 formed. The endless belt 84 is disposed in theV-shaped groove 82 of the rug brush and the V-shaped groove 74 of theturbine stub shaft 58, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will beunderstood that the endless belt 84 may be so selected that it titstightly, i.e., is in tension, and places the rug brush and turbine stubshaft in mechanical driving relationship. By the latter it is meant thatif either the turbine stub shaft or the rug brush is rotated, the othermember will be rotated through the driving connection effected by theendless /belt 84.

As can best be seen in Fig. l, a plurality of generally horizontal slots86 are formed in the side wall 22 which place the turbine chamber 38into communication with the atmosphere. With the foregoing arrangement,when a source of suction is attached to the outlet portion 16, a flow ofair is induced through both the turbine portion and nozzle portion ofthe rug tool in the manner illustrated by the schematic arrows in Fig.2. When the parts are disposed as illustrated in Fig. 2, it will beobserved that in the turbine portion, clean air will ow from theatmosphere in through the slots 86 into the turbine chamber 3.8,y whereit contacts the vanes 72 and thereby causes the turbine *'68I and itsstub shaft 58 to rotate, out through the turbine passage 4,8, throughthe opening 52 into the outlet chamber 40 and then to the source ofsuction. In the v'nozzle portion of the rug tool, when the parts arepositioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, dust-laden air passes through` thenozzle opening 32, through the slot 44 into the nozzle, 'passage 42,through vthe opening 46 into the outlet chrnber 40, and then to thesource of suction.

Rotation of the stub shaft 58 caused by rotation. of

turbine 68, in turn. causes the rug brush 76 to rotate in the, mannerdescribed. This is desirable because it provides a vpower-,driven brushin an air-operated cleaning tool, and lendsitself to convenient use witha canister type cleaner. However, as was mentioned in the introductionto this specification, several basic defects exist in cleaning tools ofthis general type. These defects, applicant found, werev caused by therug brush constructions; the prior art rug brushes were formed ofdowels, which supported a plurality of bristle tufts. With prior art rugbrushes, air owed through the nozzle opening continuously, because thediameter of the rug brush dowel was substantially less than the diameterof the nozzle chamber. The applicant found, thatv a continuous flow ofair through the nozzle causedV thelbasic defects in the prior artturbine-driven rug tools. This obtained because the substantial amountof air flowing continuously through the nozzle opening caused less airto be pulled in through the turbine chamber and,rth`erefore, the turbinedid not have adequate drivingy power under all circumstances. This wasparticularly sowhcn the tool was lifted off the rug, for then most ofthe air entered through the nozzle opening. Furthermore, av tight sealwas created between the nozzle and the rug by the continuous air ow,which made it very ditiicult, if not impossible, to push the rug toolover certain types of rugs. The unique attributes of applicants improvedrug brush 76 when associated with the remainder of the split air streamrug tool structure cooperate to eliminate both ofthesebasic defects aswill presently become apparent. l I

The improved rug brush is illustrated most clearly in Eigs. 3 "and 4,wherein it will be observed that bristle tuftingljis formedonly inselected predetermined locations on a specifically designed brush dowel.The brush dowel y 88 is generally cylindrical and has the V-shapedgroove dowel 88 is formed of two similar pieces 90 which may 82 formedcentrally thereof. As illustrated, the brush ywill be seen that the rowpiece manner merely being a particularly economical one.

Viewing the rug brush in Fig. 3,it will be seen that two rows of bristletufts are provided. Row 92 is formed on approximately one-half of thebrush dowel (the upper side of the righthand half in Fig. i),v and row94 is formed on the other half- (the lower side of the lefthand half inFig. 3). Viewing the rug brush as in Fig. 4, it 92 is supported in agenerally horizontal wall portion 96 which is disposed in a plane whichapproaches a chord of the circle which forms the dowel periphery. Itwill be observed that the bristle tufts extend radially to a point whichis within the peripheral outline of the dowel. It should, therefore, beclear that in the instance of each axial half of the rug brush dowel 88,the cross-sectional configuration is not that of a circle, but that of acircle having a segment formed by an arc approximately one-quarter ofthe circumference cut off, and a at wall substituted therefor. The row94 extends from the generally horizontal wall 98 and is mounted in asimilar manner to that of row 92.

The diameter of rug brush dowel 88 is just slightly less than that ofthe nozzle chamber 36. When the rug brush is mounted in the nozzlechamber, it functions both as a rug brush having bristle tuiting whichextends through the nozzle opening for intermittently contacting anddislodging dirt in a rug, and as a valve having portions for closing orpartially closing the nozzle opening 32. It is this dual function of therug brush 76 which enables the improved split air stream rug tool tofunction without the defects of the prior art. When the rug brushrotates, the nozzle opening 32 is closed completely onehalf of the time,yfor on two alternate complete quarters of the rug brush dowel 88 thereare no bristles, and the dowel substantially closes the nozzle openingwhen these quarters are in the nozzle opening. This obtains because thequarters of the rug brush dowel 88 between the quarters that supportrows of bristle tufting are arcuate and virtually completely close thenozzle opening 32 when they are disposed therein. The only time thenozzle opening is open, is when the bristle tufting supporting quartersare in the opening. The rows 92 and 94 of bristle tufting each contactthe oor only once in each complete rotation of the rug brush dowel 88and, therefore, this results in the nozzle opening 32 being open at allonly one-half the time. Since the dowel is cut away only over one-halfof each bristle tufting supporting quarter, the nozzle opening is openover only one-half of the length of the dowel when a dowel quarterhaving a tufting row is in the nozzle opening. Therefore, with theimproved rug brush, the nozzle opening is open one-half the time overone-half of its extent, hence it is open completely only one-fourth ofthe time. At all other times, all air entering the rug tool enters intothe turbine chamber. When the bristleless dowel quarters contact therug, they have rotary bearing contact therewith. In other words, the rugbrush 76 actually operates as a roller on the rug for a substantialportion of each rotation, and thereby makes pushing of the rug tool onthe rug relatively easy.

It is believed that the operation of the improved rug tool is clear fromthe foregoing. Starting with the parts positioned as in Fig. 2, uponconnecting the source of suction to the outlet portion 16, air flows inthe manner indicated by the arrows. The air ow through the turbinechamber causes the turbine to rotate and thereby drive the rug brush.The rows of bristles on the rug brush intermittently contact the rug anddislodge dirt, which is sucked into the air stream entering the nozzleopening. However, because of the novel construction of the rug brush,the opening in the nozzle is closed for substantially three-quarters ofeach rotation of the rug brush, as was explained. The valving action ofthe rug brush forces most of the air to come through the turbine portionof the rug tool about three-quarters of the time and, hence, an adequatesupply of power to the a basic defect in the prior art. The minimizationof air flow through the nozzle opening also eliminates sudden surges ofair through the nozzle when the rug tool is lifted oi the rug and thetight seal which was present in the prior art devices and which made itvery difficult to push the rug tool over certain types of rugs. Lastly,the substantial roller effect of the rug brush on a rug further reducesthe opposition to movement of the rug tool over a rug, and furtherenhances the facility with which the improved rug tool may be operated.

Therefore, as will be evident from the foregoing disclosure, it will beapparent that the invention satisfies its objects in that it eliminatesthe basic defects of the prior art and provides an elicient air-operatedrug tool having a power-driven rug brush. Certain aspects of myinvention are not limited to the particular details of construction ofthe example illustrated, Aand I contemplate that various and othermodifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art.It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims will cover suchmodications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an air-operated cleaning tool comprising a turbine chambercommunicating with the atmosphere and having a turbine mounted forrotation therein, a nozzle chamber communicating with the atmosphere andhaving a rug brush mounted for rotation therein, said turbine whenrotated adapted to rotate said rug brush, and an outlet chamber whichcommunicates with the turbine chamber, the nozzle chamber and a sourceof suction, whereby on actuation of said source a separate flow of airis induced through each of said nozzle and turbine chambers, thatimprovement comprising means on said rug brush for intermittentlysubstantially terminating communication of said nozzle chamber with theatmosphere to thereby periodically substantially completely stop theflow of air through the nozzle chamber and cause substantially all airto ilow through said turbine chamber.

2. A device as defined in claim l wherein said nozzle chambercommunicates with the atmosphere through an opening, and said meanscomprises valve portions on said rug brush which are adapted tosubstantially completely close said opening.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said portions are arcuate andextend beyond said opening whereby they are adapted to roll on a rug tothereby render the tool easy to push thereon.

4. A device as -delined in claim l wherein said nozzle chamber isgenerally cylindrical and communicates with the atmosphere through anelongated opening, and wherein said rug brush comprises a generallycylindrical dowel of slightly less diameter than said nozzle chamber,said rug brush dowel having surface portions cut away, whereby said rugbrush dowel substantially closes said nozzle opening at all times exceptwhen said cutaway portions are juxtaposed to the nozzle opening.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein rug agitating means is securedto said dowel and supported in said cutaway portions.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein the periphery of said dowel isadapted to contact the rug and roll thereon, and said rug agitatingmeans extends to said periphery.

7. A rug brush for use in split air-ow, turbine-driven rug tool having anozzle chamber with an elongated opening adjacent to the surface Ionwhich the tool rests, cornprising a generally cylindrical dowel, saiddowel lhaving portions -cut away and supporting rug agitating means atthe location of such portions, said portions being located on oppositeaxial halves of opposite radial sides of said dowel, said rug agitatingmeans being disposed wholly turbine, eliminating within thecircumferential outline of said dov/e1, said 4doiveladapted to `bemounted for rotation in said nozzle chamber adjacent said openingsofas.` to be in contact with said surface andy to substantiallycompletely close' said opening. at all'time's yduring rotation ofsaiddowel except when said' cutaway portions are juxtaposed to. said open-`ing, and topartially close said` ope-ning and partially contact s'aidsurface when the cutaway portions are, juxtaposed to said opening:l

8. A device `as1 defined in claim 7 wherein said, rug agtatingmeanscomprisesrows of bristle tufting.

9. An air-operated cleaning tool comprising a body having walls forminga turbinev chambenya nozzle` chamber, and an outlet chamber, openings insaid wallsplacing said. turbine chamber into-communication with the-atmosphere, an opening viu-'said Walls placing said nozzle chamberinto-*communication with said atmosphere, a irst passagewayv betweenSaid turbine chamber and said outlet chamber, a ysecond passagewaybetween said nozzle chamber and rsaid. outletjchambr; a turbinerotatably mounted in-said turbiney chamber,r a rug brush rotatably l8mounted in said nozzle chamber, said turbine and rug brush being indriving relationship, said outlet chamber adapted to,- c`onimunicatewith a'sourcenof, suction to thereby induce a ow of air through saidopenings, said -turbine chamber, said first passageway and said outletchamber to said source, and` a separate flow of yair throughsaidopening, said nozzle chamber, said second passageway and said outletchamber to 'saidy source, and means for substantially completelyclosingsaid opening a portion 'of each rotation of said rug'brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

